It’s Time Allen & Overy is a leading global law firm operating in over thirty countries. Embracing new trends and harnessing decades of experience, we’ve earned our place at the forefront of the legal industry. Our partners are recognised as leaders in their field and our deals and cases often make headline business news. As a result, we’ve developed a reputation for delivering excellence, in all that we do. Today, we’re continuing to break new ground. By embracing new ways of thinking and integrating technology into our everyday work, we’ve been named as the Most Innovative Law Firm in Europe by the Financial Times six times. Join our team and you’ll be part of a flexible, inclusive culture underpinned by openness and acceptance. We’re driven by the belief that, to perform, people need support and space to collaborate. By combining those values with an ambitious outlook, we can give you the opportunity to thrive. The role is part time (3 days a week) for an 18-month period, located either in Dusseldorf, Paris or Munich, but we would not exclude hiring an outstanding candidate in other UPC locations. Department purpose Allen & Overy’s top tier patent litigation team acts for the world’s leading companies in the most complex patent disputes. A&O acts in multi-jurisdictional and national patent disputes across a range of sectors, particularly specialising in life sciences and technology. We represent clients in the many different courts and tribunals worldwide, leveraging the full range of dispute resolution methods to deliver commercial outcomes for clients. We advise on the most significant and complex cases, including advising on some of the first disputes examining Standard Essential Patents and FRAND terms. We have also advised on cases involving Supplementary Protection Certificates and Second Medical Use. A firm technical understanding is crucial to success. Many of our team members have technical backgrounds and industry experience and can advise with confidence in cases involving the most complex technologies. Role purpose With the establishment of the UPC, we are looking for an individual with strong commercial acumen, with an international outlook and ideally experience in patents. Experience of supporting fee-earners and business development in a project capacity concerning a transformational legal development would also be beneficial. Key relationships Partners, Associates and the wider IP teams Business Development teams Professional Support Lawyers Wider A&O communityRole and responsibilities Providing strategic advice Managing client expectations and project delivery appropriately Business development - assistance with and implementation of the UPC business development campaign, pitches, client alerts, publications Management of know-how Drafting, reviewing and amending documentation Legal research1. Internal knowledge, training and development Oversight and input into the UPC internal training programme, which is global in nature. Staying up to date on legal developments relating to the UPC and producing alerts and updates on developments for fee-earners. Creating, maintaining and curating know-how in relation to the UPC as implementation progresses and the UPC comes to fruition. Monitoring competitor activity relating to the UPC, distilling into actionable insights for the team. Acting as a sounding board on queries from around the firm relating to the UPC. 2. Client engagement Leading on the initial and on-going client listening programme, working with business development to package findings into actionable insights for our clients and teams. Leading on our client publications relating to the UPC, including identifying topics, drafting and/or commissioning and editing content. Assisting in the design, development and maintenance of the A&O UPC microsite and managing associated social media campaigns. Inputting to client pitches, assisting in gathering credentials and developing a strong value-proposition Designing, developing and presenting at both regular and ad hoc client seminars and training events on issues relating to the UPC. Key requirements Qualified lawyer, preferably with a solid knowledge and understanding of patent litigation Exposure to the life sciences and/or tech sectors Outstanding academic credentials with a commercial outlook Intellectual curiosity and versatility Self -starter with the desire and ability continuously to acquire, develop and share knowledge Detail-focused and self-motivated approach Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple deadlines Excellent client relationship skills Sound experience of operating at associate level within a complex international organisation Strong commercial/business acumen with the ability to deliver creative and pragmatic solutions and advice Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to interface at all levels and particularly to win the respect of the partner and fee-earner community, building strong relationships with both internal and external stakeholders Collaborative team player with the ability to develop and work in a fast paced, intellectually rigorous environment A person of sound judgment, able to establish a high level of credibility